Monday, May 05, 2008

The painting is by Ottawa artist Patty Woodyard (pwoodyard@primus.ca). And the title of this post is from Song of The Flower by Khalil Gibran:

I am a kind word uttered and repeatedBy the voice of Nature;I am a star fallen from theBlue tent upon the green carpet.I am the daughter of the elementsWith whom Winter conceived;To whom Spring gave birth; I wasReared in the lap of Summer and ISlept in the bed of Autumn.

At dawn I unite with the breezeTo announce the coming of light;At eventide I join the birdsIn bidding the light farewell.

The plains are decorated withMy beautiful colors, and the airIs scented with my fragrance.

As I embrace Slumber the eyes ofNight watch over me, and as IAwaken I stare at the sun, which isThe only eye of the day.

I drink dew for wine, and hearken toThe voices of the birds, and danceTo the rhythmic swaying of the grass.

I am the lover's gift; I am the wedding wreath;I am the memory of a moment of happiness;I am the last gift of the living to the dead;I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.

But I look up high to see only the light,And never look down to see my shadow.This is wisdom which man must learn.